Invited, architectural design competition. Winning design by zillerplus for the planning consortium Heimatmole GbR c/o Kiezkompanie Hamburg PartGmbB from Hamburg, completion 2024.

With the HafenCity redevelopment, Hamburg is setting new urban development standards beyond Europe. In contrast to other urban developments on the waterfront, e.g., in Rotterdam or Copenhagen, HafenCity is setting its own benchmarks – with a special urban development concept, a strong emphasis on ecological sustainability and an intensive social mix, supported by high-quality public spaces and economic sustainability elements. One of the remaining construction sites is Baakenhafen, which is connected to the Lohsepark and Elbbrücken neighbourhoods, where 3,500 flats and around 13,000 jobs will be created by 2030. One of HafenCity's requirements for the competition for Construction Site 97 was to achieve a mixed residential community including all age groups and individual lifestyles, as the basis for a heterogeneous and identity-forming neighbourhood.

Construction Site 97, Baakenallee 78, Hamburg HafenCity

Mooring. Arriving. Staying.

The "HeimatMole" building community is a group of clients who want to combine living and freelance work in one building. To this end, three guiding principles were defined, which serve as the overarching goals of the building community, but at the same time were to be realised in the built space...

Courage and curiosity

The opportunity and challenge in the development of this residential building is to finally abandon modernity's separation of functions and to be able to experience living, working and leisure in one building again. It is a challenge because of the dense urban location in the immediate vicinity of the pier on the Elbe with its tidal range. An opportunity, because the building consortium dares to create a building that is sustainable on various levels. Sustainable architecture in terms of the building's greenery and biodiversity, energy efficiency and mobility, but also in terms of the house community itself. With the Heimatclub in the basement as the centrepiece of the building, a place for community activities has been created. The green roof terrace complements the offer as a meeting space for all residents.

Intelligent use of space

Based on the awareness that the demands on living, especially in combination with working, are changing, a spatial programme was developed that enables an interplay between the apartments and so-called "Switch Rooms". Switch Rooms are self-sufficient and flexible extension areas that can be ‘switched’ to the individual apartment but are also accessible from the staircase. The small, flexibly assignable units can also be open to temporary flatmates. The Switch Rooms are located in the east alongside the individual rooms of the apartments, thus allowing – together with the central bathroom area – great flexibility: for use in connection with the apartments or as stand-alone units. An evaluation every three years reviews the demand and might result in a redistribution of the areas.

In addition, communal areas promote neighbourly coexistence. The Home Club is both the address and a space to arrive and linger. The location of the staircase in the courtyard forms a passageway and second entrance, thus the club has an everyday function but can also be used individually and separated for fire protection reasons. The staircase becomes a communal stage with a green room in front, through which the flats can also be accessed, allowing the green room to be used directly by the Switch Rooms.

From heat islands to cool oases: How the microclimate is saving cities

The theme of the green façade characterises the identity of the Heimatmole project. It forms an integral conceptual component that is far more than an ecological or technical measure. It is intended to show how nature can create its own space in HafenCity, even in an urban location.